Kitap 12
14
This, then, may be taken to be the number of the spheres; and thus it is reasonable to suppose that there are as many immovable substances and principles,i.e., the movers of the spheres.—the statement of logical necessity may be left to more competent thinkers.
15
If there can be no spatial motion which is not conducive to the motion of a star, and if moreover every entity and every substance which is impassive and has in itself attained to the highest good should be regarded as an end, then there can be no other entity besides these,See previous note. and the number of the substances must be as we have said. For if there are other substances, they must move something, since they are the end of spatial motion.
16
But there can be no other spatial motions besides those already mentioned. This is a reasonable inference from a general consideration of spatial motion. For if everything which moves exists for the sake of that which is moved, and every motion for the sake of something which is moved, no motion can exist for the sake of itself or of some other motion, but all motions must exist for the sake of the stars.
17
For if we are to suppose that one motion is for the sake of another, the latter too must be for the sake of something else; and since the series cannot be infinite, the end of every motion must be one of the divine bodies which are moved through the heavens.
17
It is evident that there is only one heaven.This paragraph seems to belong to an earlier period of Aristotle’s thought. At any rate the argument that plurality involves matter is inconsistent with the view that there are 55 immaterial movers. For if there is to be a plurality of heavens (as there is of men), the principle of each must be one in kind but many in number.
